Dude, u can draw if u can draw faces and figuers then u kno where the kines go :3 But yes u can draw! I can tell u to do this and that to improve ur drawing but u as the artist kno all ur mistakes and weaknesses. SO! just keep drawin dragon! XD

Okay, time to start this.

For starters, if this was drawn with out a reference it is extremely well composed for a newcomer to drawing. His stance is good, and portrays Shikamaru very well, especially the positions of his eyebrows and his mouth, very like him

His face is a bit too circular, don't be afraid to delve in there and develope your own style, I recommend finding some well drawn "How to draw manga" books, which can be found at various bookstores like Walden Books, Barns N' Nobels, and Borders. They are a HUGE help, they also offer you a step by step guide of the "stick drawing" method in which you start off the figure as single lines and circles and work from there, it's a very effective method, though if you want to develope your own style it's important to try things not shown to you or that you read, in art, anything is acceptable!

The arms are drawn fairly well and his close have enough movement to not look awkward, it's really a very well done picture you have here DragonRider.

And to your comment, art is never a waste of anyones time, even if you don't plan on makig a career of it, you should always draw if it's something you enjoy doing, no one else can tell you too quit and no one else has the right to tell you any single one of your pictures are ugly or childish. Absolutely NO ONE can do that, not even if they are some kind of amazing drawer. Your parents especially should not bring you donw on your drawing, I remember my mom did that to me, telling me that it was a waste of my time, but now-a-days she wants to find a way to get a copyright for my art, so even if they don't like it in the beginning,stick with it long enough and you'll begin to impress even your parents. And trust me, there's no better feeling then to have people comment your art, especially your parents.

So stick with it and WELL DONE!!!!

.:Akiko44:.